Slovenian Mountains Hiking Guide

Hiking in the Slovenian Alps is like walking into a living-breathing fairy tale. Each step pampers you with magical landscapes and storybook scenes that look like a mirage materializing before your very eyes. It’s a continuous visual feast composed of emerald-colored lakes, roaming ibex, and fields of Edelweiss. 

The Slovenian Alps are made up of three mountain ranges: the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Karawanks. This guide will introduce you to the most enchanting hiking destinations in these mountain ranges, with tips on specific hiking trails and places to stay. 

Slovenian Alps Hiking Gear

Slovenia has tons of heart-pounding trails, which require sure-footedness, a head for heights, and proper gear. If you want to hike hut-to-hut or tackle some challenging peak summits, we recommend the following gear:

• Climbing Helmet like his women’s helmet and this men’s helmet. In the Slovenian mountains, there’s always a danger of rockfall.
• Climbing Gloves like these black diamond half-finger gloves
• Sturdy Grade B/C Hiking Shoes –  like the women’s Hanwag Tatra II GTX / Meindl Schuhe Island Lady (what Kati and I wear) or the men’s Hanwag Tatra II GTX.
• Hiking Poles like these Black Diamond trail poles.
• CAT 4 Sunglasses: Julbo Shield Mountain Sunglasses

Waymarks in the Slovenian Alps

Hiking trails are marked with the red Knafeljc waymark, which is a red circle with a white center. Trail markings are generally well-maintained and easy to follow.

In this guide, you’ll find lots of hiking trail options. But, trail conditions can always change. Please check this website for up-to-date information on trail closures.

Lake Bohinj and the Southern Julian Alps

Cradled by the Julian Alps, Lake Bohinj stretches across Bohinj Valley, reaching a length of 4.35 km. Firmly situated within Triglav National Park, Slovenia’s largest lake is an ideal destination for an active summer trip packed with tons of day hiking. And after your hike, you can gleefully dip into the crystal-clear waters of Bohinj. 

Though a mere 25-minute drive from Lake Bled, this glacial lake couldn’t be more different. Largely overlooked by most visitors, Lake Bohinj is a peaceful and laid-back place to base yourself for a few days, when hiking in the Slovenian Alps.

Below, you’ll find a list of Lake Bohinj hikes, grouped by the trailhead. Before setting off, make sure to check here for trail updates.

Hikes Starting in Stara Fužina and Ribčev Laz

On the eastern end of Lake Bohinj, the small settlements of Stara Fužina and Ribčev Laz mark the starting points for hikes to Mostnica Gorge, the Bohinj alpine pastures, and various lookout points. 

• Stara Fužina to Kosijev dom na Vogarj (Bohinj Lookout Point)
• Stara Fužina to Rudnica Viewpoint 
• Stara Fužina to Mostnica Gorge and Mostnica Waterfall in Voje Valley

Trails Starting at Planina Blato

To access more hiking trails on the north side of Lake Bohinj, drive to Planina Blato via a toll road (12 EUR). From this high alpine pasture, you can hike to Koča na Planini pri Jezeru, Planina Lazu, and even all the way to the Seven Lakes Valley.

• Triglav Lakes Valley – This is the easiest approach to the famous Seven Lakes Valley.
• Bohinj Alpine Pasture Loop, as described in our Julian Alps Hiking Guide.
• Veliko Špičje – 2-day route to the Veliko Špičje summit.

In Stara Fužina, we recommend staying in the boutique Hotel Majerca for great views, al fresco dining, and overall design concept. In Ribčev Laz, we recommend staying in the beautifully-designed Hotel Bohinj. 

Look for accommodation in Stara Fužina.

Trails Starting at Vogel Ski Resort

On the western end of Lake Bohinj, more trails begin from Ukanc village and Vogel Ski Resort. With a convenient cable car ascent to Vogel Ski Resort, you can embark on hikes to Vogel peak and Mount Rodica in the Southern Julian Alps. You can even hike from the Vogel cable car mountain station (Rjava Skala) all the way to Komna plateau, Savica waterfall, and Ribčev Laz.

• Vogel Ski Resort to Mount Vogel
• Vogel Ski Resort – Komna Mountain Plateau – Savica Waterfall 

Trails Starting in Ukanc and Koča pri Savici hut

From Koča pri Savici mountain hut (located above Ukanc), you can hike to Dom na Komni mountain hut and the Seven Lakes Valley. Here are some trails to check out:

• Koča pri Savici to Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih– this is the more difficult ascent route to the Seven Lakes Valley
• Ukanc to Savica Waterfall Circuit 

In Ukanc, we recommend staying in the lovely bed and breakfast Hiša Erlah. It’s a comfortable, relaxing accommodation with easy access to Lake Bohinj and the Vogel Cable Car. You can borrow kayaks, SUPs, and bikes during your stay.

Look for accommodation in Ukanc.

Kranjska Gora and the Northern Julian Alps

Kranjska Gora is the gateway to the Northern Julian Alps, and an ideal base for day hiking. From this alpine resort town, you can reach popular trailheads along Vršič Road, Planica, and Gozd Martuljek. If you’re looking for a hut-to-hut hike, check out our Triglav National Park Traverse, starting at Vršič Pass and ending in Lake Bohinj. 

Recommended Resources:

• Sidarta’s Triglav 1:25 000 Map, or the Kompass Julian Alps 1:25,000 Hiking Map
• The Julian Alps of Slovenia: Mountain Walks and Short Treks

Hikes Starting along Vršič Road or Vršič Pass

• Slemenova Špica – trail details in our Kranjska Gora in Summer Guide.
• Mt. Špik
• Mt. Mala Mojstrovka (via ferrata hike)
• Prisojnik / Prisank (via ferrata hike)

Hikes Starting in Planica

• Dom v Tamarju mountain hut – trail details in our Julian Alps Hiking Guide.

Hikes Starting in Gozd Martuljek

• Martuljek Waterfalls – trail details in our Kranjska Gora in Summer Guide.
• Srednji Vrh – Vošca

Stay in Kranjska Gora

We recommend staying in Apartmaji in sobe Tina (budget), Apartments and Rooms Bernik (midrange), or Jasna Chalet Resort (luxury).

Look for accommodation in Kranjska Gora.

Mojstrana and the Northern Julian Alps

The village of Mojstrana is located 14-km east of Kranjska Gora. From here, three parallel valleys fan out southwards into the Julian Alps: Vrata Valley, Kot Valley, and Krma Valley. The most popular ascent routes to Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest mountain, start in Vrata Valley and Krma Valley.

Hikes Starting in Mojstrana

If you’re looking for a leisurely stroll, check out the Triglavska Bistrica Trail, which follows the Triglavska Bistrica stream from Mojstrana to the head of Vrata Valley.

Another trail to consider is the one to the panoramic hill Vrtaško Sleme, which rises above Mojstrana.

Hikes Starting in Vrata Valley

• Triglavska Bistrica Trail and Peričnik waterfall
• Aljažev dom v Vratih – Škrlatica – very demanding and long trail (experts only)
• Aljažev dom v Vratih – Križ and Stenar – very demanding and long trail
• Triglav ascent route: Čez Prag Route – demanding ascent route

Hikes Starting in Krma Valley

The longest, but considerably easier ascent route to Mount Triglav is from Krma Valley. The hike takes 2 days and requires a via ferrata kit for the final stretch to the summit.

Note: you can also approach Mount Triglav from the South from Pokljuka, which is what we did. Read about this 2-day Mount Triglav hike here.

Stay in Mojstrana

Stay at Hostel Lukna (budget), Guesthouse Veranda (midrange), or Mountain View Glamping (luxury).

Look for accommodation in Mojstrana.

Pokljuka Plateau

Pokljuka is a high alpine plateau, situated between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj in Triglav National Park. This hidden oasis of alpine pastures and forest is another entry point into the Julian Alps. The most popular trailhead on the plateau is Rudno Polje, marked by Hotel Center Pokljuka. It’s also possible to approach Triglav from Pokljuka.

Hikes Starting near Rudno Polje:

• Planina Zajamniki (better with a bike)
• Viševnik – Short Day Hike. Popular Summit in the Julian Alps.
• Blejska koča na Lipanci and Debela peč
• Mount Triglav – This southern approach to Triglav is the easiest ascent route.

All trails starting at Rudno Polje.

Learn More: Hidden Wonders of Pokljuka Plateau

Stay in Pokljuka

In Pokljuka, We recommend staying at Šport Hotel Pokljuka, or Hotel Center Pokljuka, both of which are very close to the Rudno Polje trailhead. Vila Triglav on Pokljuka or Alpine Homestead are other options on the edge of Pokljuka.

Look for accommodation in Pokljuka.

Or Stay in Lake Bled

We recommend staying at Jazz Hostel & Apartments (budget), Design & Wine Vila Special Bled (mid-range), Luxury Pearl Bled (luxury).

Look for accommodation in Lake Bled.

Solčavsko Region and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps

Solčavsko Region is one of the most pristine alpine regions in Slovenia. Nestled against the Austrian Border, Solčavsko encompasses Logar Valley, Robanov Kot (valley), Matkov Kot (valley), and Podolševa. From these valleys, you can hike into the heart of the Kamnik Savinja Alps. Here are some of our favorite day hikes:

• Logar Valley to the Kamnik Saddle and Planjava (Difficult)
• Logar Valley to Ledinski Vrh (Moderate)
• Robanov Kot to Robanova Planina (Easy, Family-friendly)

Learn More: Best Things to Do in Logar Valley

Where to Stay in Solčavsko Region

• Lenar Farm or Hotel Plesnik in Logar Valley
• Turistična kmetija Vršnik – Govc in Robanov Kot
• Turistična kmetija Gradišnik, Tourist Farm Perk, Klemen Matk in Matkov Kot

Kamniška Bistrica and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps

Kamniška Bistrica is a tiny dispersed settlement in Kamniška Bistrica Valley. This is one of the easiest gateways to the Kamnik Alps. From Dom v Kamniški Bistrici, you can hike to Kamniška koča na Kamniškem sedlu, or Cojzova koča na Kokrskem sedlu. Both mountain huts are excellent starting points for summitting surrounding peaks.

We started this Kamnik-Savinja Alps hut to hut hike in Kamniška Bistrica.

Hiking Resources:

• We recommend the Kartografija or Grintovci 1:25 000 maps for all hikes in the Kamnik Savinja Alps.

Stay in Kamniška Bistrica or Kamnik

We spend the night at Dom v Kamniški Bistrici in Kamniška Bistrica (budget) and really liked our experience. If you rather stay the night in a tiny house and enjoy the surrounding nature on your own, check out Skalca (midrange). Both places are located right at the trailhead(s) in Kamniška Bistrica.

Lepa Lopa is another great option if you love glamping. It’s only a 30 minutes walk to the end of the road (Dom v Kamniški Bistrici).

Look for accommodation in Kamniška Bistrica.

For a more comfortable experience, stay at Hotel MD Kamnik (luxury) located in Kamnik city centre.

Look for accommodation in Kamnik.

Jezersko and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps

Zgornje Jezersko is a small Slovenian village, located very close to the Austrian border. It’s another gateway to the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Rivaling the beauty of Logar Valley, Jezersko’s Ravenska kočna valley is a splendid place to walk and simply enjoy alpine views.

From the tiny Planšarsko jezero lake in Jezersko, continue driving 3 km up Ravenska kočna to the parking lot at the end of the road. From here, you can hike to Češka Koča mountain hut (1:30 hrs one-way) and Goli Vrh peak (2 hrs one-way).

Stay in Jezersko

We recommend staying in the 15th-century Tourist farm Šenkova domačija. This magical place is brimming with free-roaming chickens and ducks and wide enclosures of cows and sheep. This is one of the most magical places in Slovenia.

Look for accommodation in Zgornje Jezersko.

Karawanks

Like the Julian Alps and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Karawanks (Karavanke) are a mountain range in the Southern Limestone Alps. Running along the Austrian-Slovenian border, this 120 km-long range is yet another hiking destination in the Slovenian Alps. Here are some trails that are on our bucket list for future visits:

• Stol – the highest mountain in the Karawanks mountain chain
• Vrtača – the second highest peak in the Karawanks mountain chain
• Kofce Mountain Hut – family-friendly destination just below the Košuta ridge
• Veliki vrh and Kladivo – popular summits along the Košuta ridge
• Košutnikov Turn – highest summit along the Košuta ridge

Stay in Tržič

The town of Tržič is the gateway to Košuta, the longest mountain in Slovenia.

Look for accommodation in Tržič.